LA 500

Wallis Annenberg

Wallis Annenberg, chief executive of the Annenberg Foundation, has spent much of her life focused on philanthropy, especially in the fields of education, communications, arts and culture, medical research, animal welfare, social justice and environmental stewardship. Under Annenberg’s leadership, the Los Angeles office of the foundation has given more than $250 million to more than 500 organizations. In 2009 the foundation opened the Annenberg Space for Photography, a state-of-the-art print and digital gallery in Century City. Annenberg’s commitment to building community space can be seen in the creation of the Annenberg Community Beach House located on the grounds of the former Marion Davies estate on Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica; the Universally Accessible Treehouse project in Torrance; and the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in the historic Beverly Hills Post Office. Annenberg serves on various boards, including the board of trustees for the University of Southern California.